Is human composting legal in Minnesota?
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THE SHORT ANSWER
Yes. Natural organic reduction, often called human composting, became a legal option in Minnesota on Jul 1, 2025. When we hosted our Oct 2026 webinar, no facility was operating in the state yet, so Minnesota families work with a funeral home to send their person to a facility in another state.
Human composting is the newest option on the list, and one many people ask about. Mortician Angela Woosley of Inspired Journeys, who worked on the effort to legalize it in Minnesota, explained how it works at our October webinar.
What human composting is
You may hear it called natural organic reduction (NOR), human composting, recomposition or terramation. Angela described it as a cross between green burial and cremation. Like green burial, the body returns to the earth. Like cremation, your family receives something they can take home: soil.
How the process works
The body is placed in a vessel with plant material such as alfalfa and straw. Microbes from the body and the plants break everything down, and the facility monitors the temperature and turns the vessel as needed, much like a backyard compost bin. Angela said the process takes about six to eight weeks.
Some facilities let families decorate the vessel or visit during that time. Angela sees that as a gift for grieving families, since the weeks of transformation can mirror their own.
What is left
According to Angela, the process creates about a cubic yard of soil, enough to fill a pickup truck bed, because so much plant material goes in. Families can take all of it, a small urn’s worth or none. The facility returns any soil the family does not take to land that needs restoring.
Angela said Minnesota’s law treats this soil like cremated remains, so you can scatter it on land where you have the owner’s permission.
How Minnesota families arrange it today
Natural organic reduction has been a legal form of final disposition in Minnesota since Jul 1, 2025. Until a facility opens here, a funeral home arranges to send the body by air to a facility in another state. Angela named providers including Recompose and Return Home in Washington and The Natural Funeral in Colorado. The body travels as air cargo, kept cool for the trip, and families can plan a laying-in ceremony at the facility.
Costs vary widely. The facility and the Minnesota funeral home each charge separately, so ask both for prices.
Make sure someone can carry it out
Because this option is new and involves travel, it helps to name the person you trust to arrange it and write down that this is what you want. You can do both in your health care directive. Still comparing options? Read about water cremation and green burial in Minnesota.
Watch the full webinar
Watch Angela explain human composting, green burial and water cremation in the free recording.
Talk with a Minnesota elder law attorney
Everbright Legacy Law helps families across the Twin Cities plan for aging, care and the end of life from our office in Richfield. If you want help putting your wishes in writing, schedule a consultation.
Keep reading
This article is general information, not legal advice. Every situation is different. Facts attributed to Angela Woosley come from the Oct 22, 2026 webinar; laws and provider options change, so confirm details with a licensed funeral provider or an attorney.
Frequently
Asked Questions
Is human composting legal in Minnesota?
Yes. Natural organic reduction became a legal form of final disposition in Minnesota on Jul 1, 2025.
Where can Minnesotans get human composting?
As of Oct 2026 no facility operated in Minnesota. A funeral home can arrange transport to a facility in another state, such as Washington or Colorado.
How long does human composting take?
Mortician Angela Woosley said the process takes about six to eight weeks.
What happens to the soil from human composting?
Families can keep some, all or none of it. The facility returns unclaimed soil to land that needs restoring.
The Everbright Way
Everbright Legacy Law is a Minnesota elder law firm in Richfield, serving families across the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota. Our attorneys are members of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), and we integrate licensed social workers with our legal team to deliver coordinated life care planning that goes beyond documents.
Schedule an introductory consultation with Everbright Legacy Law.
